Fluid dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A concentrated flavour dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a few millilitres and few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is in direct fluid communication with a respective storage tank, and a control panel having a programmable microprocessor mounted to the cabinet for receiving user selections and controlling each individual pump. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod for advancing a piston by any one of several predetermined distances to dispense a corresponding volume of fluid. The control panel receives a valid user selection for actuating one or more pumps to dispense the appropriate volume of a concentrated flavouring fluid. The microprocessor tracks the amount of fluid dispensed from each storage tank and alerts users and / or prevents further operation when reservoirs are close to empty to avoid null dispenses to customers. Various maintenance routines can be executed through the user interface, and dispense volumes and combination dispenses can be re-programmed manually or automatically.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to liquid dispensing machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to liquid dispensing machines capable of dispensing small and accurate amounts of concentrated liquids.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many coffee shops serve an array of coffee products, from mild to strong coffees brewed from coffee beans grown in different areas of the world, each imparting a particular flavour and aroma. Due to the limited counter space available to coffee shops, only a small selection of coffees are served each day, as coffee pots, heat plates and coffee bean grinders occupy a significant portion of the counter space. This selection can include strong, mild or medium roast coffees brewed from a variety of coffee beans.[0003]In addition to these “standard” coffees, a selection of flavoured coffees are also served. Examples of such flavours include amaretto almond, French Vanilla and Irish cream. One method of provid...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a fluid dispensing system that can dispense very small volumes of fluid accurately and consistently, regardless of the viscosity levels of the fluid. The system includes a displacement pump with a cylindrical chamber, a piston, a threaded drive rod, a stepper motor, and anti-rotation means. The system also includes a user interface, a microprocessor, a pump driver, and a plurality of displacement pumps. The system can selectively couple the motor drive signals to one of the plurality of displacement pumps, and each displacement pump can be coupled to a corresponding storage tank. The system can provide consistent and accurate dispensing of fluids, even at low viscosity levels."

Problems solved by technology

Due to the limited counter space available to coffee shops, only a small selection of coffees are served each day, as coffee pots, heat plates and coffee bean grinders occupy a significant portion of the counter space.

However, because separate grinders are required for grinding standard coffee beans and flavoured coffee beans to ensure that the standard coffee bean grinders are free from contamination from flavoured grounds, valuable counter space is taken up and additional cost is incurred by the extra grinder.

Furthermore, flavoured coffees tend to stew in their pots for a relatively long period of time since they may not be as popular as the non-flavoured coffees.

Those of skill in the art are well aware that coffee left standing on a heat plate for too long is unpalatable due to poor taste.

Therefore, additional cost is incurred as unsold flavoured coffee must be thrown out in favour of freshly brewed flavoured coffee.

Although use of pre-packaged flavoured coffee obviates the need for an additional grinder, the problem with limited counter space and aged coffee persists.

Furthermore, the consumer perception that pre-packaged coffee cannot be as fresh as freshly ground coffee tends to curb consumers from purchasing pre-packaged, flavoured coffee.

Unfortunately, consistency of flavour between different servings is difficult to achieve because the dose of syrup added to each cup of coffee is subject to human error.

Consistent dosing is further complicated when several flavours are added to the same beverage, as different flavours can overpower others.

Hence, consistent and accurate dosing of flavourings cannot be achieved when a server is responsible for manually preparing a flavoured beverage.

Manufacturers and retailers prefer to use concentrated flavouring with minimal carrier, as the carrier can affect the flavouring and taste of the flavoured beverage, and the additional volume contributed by the carrier increases shipping costs of the flavouring.

Due to the highly concentrated nature of the concentrated flavouring, accuracy of the dispense becomes critical since the absence or addition of one or two millilitres can significantly affect the taste of the beverage.

However, none of these types of machines are suitable for dispensing the very small volumes of concentrated flavouring fluid desired by the industry.

Such dispensers are obviously not suitable for accurate and consistent delivery of small amounts of concentrated flavouring fluids since the amount to be dispensed relies upon user control.

Furthermore, known peristaltic pump systems are not capable of dispensing very small quantities of concentrated flavouring fluids.

Current pressure based dispensing systems rely on flow meters which are not sensitive enough to the very small flows required for dispensing the small volumes of concentrated flavourings.

Hence their dispensing accuracy is poor, especially since the canister pressure changes as it empties, which introduces a variation in proportions and amounts of fluid dispensed.

Furthermore, these systems tend to be difficult to clean and flavours are difficult to change.

Current displacement pumps are designed for dispensing relatively large volumes of fluid, and therefore lack the precision necessary for dispensing small volumes of concentrated flavourings.

Current displacement pumps are thus even less suited to dispensing small volumes of high viscosity fluids.

The problem posed by such additives is their high viscosity rating relative to standard concentrated flavouring fluids.

Thus, these products are difficult to dispense through gravity or pressure based dispensing systems.

While peristaltic pump systems can be modified to accommodate 4000 centepoise fluids, the high cost renders this approach unfeasible and impractical.

Examples of such impracticalities includes the requirement to change fine size to accommodate the different viscosities, and the pump bodies being configurable to accept either two small cartridges or one large cartridge.

Since current displacement pumps are designed for dispensing large volumes of low centepoise fluids, they cannot dispense 4000 centepoise fluids accurately.

However, there are no known dispensers capable of dispensing concentrated flavouring fluids having a wide range of centepoise values, and in volumes of a few millilitres consistently and accurately.

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